Chamber Office Closed for Veteran’s DayBlair Business Mirror to Be Published Tuesday
Condolences to the Family of Paul Kirby
Chamber Board to Vote on 2013 Budget
Only a Few Spots Remain for First “Role Models” Program
Thursday’s “Business After Hours” Slated for First National Bank
Village at Morrisons Cove to Host “Business Before Hours”
Controversial Issues to Highlight LBC Session Debate
Time Management is Topic of WE-LEaD “Lunch’N’Learn”
Inexpensive Opportunities Available to Sponsor Television Programs
Planning to Go With The Chamber to China? Sign Up Now!
Chamber Co-Sponsoring Seminar on Small Games of Chance
“Buy Here. Live Here.” Planning Invites Member Participation
Congratulations . . .
Blue Card Discounts

Chamber Office Closed for Veteran’s DayThe office of the Blair County Chamber will be closed on Monday in commemoration of Veteran’s Day. The office will re-open on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. For information on The Chamber or to register for an event or program while the office is closed, visit The Chamber Website.

Blair Business Mirror to Be Published TuesdayThe November issue of the Blair Business Mirror will be published on Tuesday as a supplement to the Altoona Mirror. This month’s cover feature will focus on landscapers and lawn care specialists located in Blair County who are members of the Blair County Chamber. Inside features include a story on a unique sales concept at U.S. Foodservice and one on a retail rivalry with less-than-hostile overtones. For more information on the Blair Business Mirror, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151.

Condolences to the Family of Paul KirbyPaul Kirby, a graduate of The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County program and a newly-elected member of the Blair County Chamber Foundation, died unexpectedly last Wednesday. “Paul grew up in my neighborhood,” acknowledged Chamber Board Chair Ron Muffie. “He was an outstanding man – a great husband and father – who was well-respected as an engineer. He will be missed and our prayers and condolences go out to his family.” Kirby was employed at Keller Engineers in Hollidaysburg.

Chamber Board to Vote on 2013 BudgetWhen the Blair County Chamber’s Board of Directors meets on Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Devorris Center, one primary agenda item will be the approval of the organization’s 2013 Annual Budget. “It’s always challenging to put together a budget when you do as many things as we do,” remarked Chamber President Joe Hurd. “We don’t want to short-change any programs and we always want our members to feel that their investment is used wisely.” Hurd is encouraged by the fact that The Chamber continues to operate without government funding. “Our dues and our program and event revenue continue to offset our operational costs,” he reminded. “That’s the way we prefer it.”

Only a Few Spots Remain for First “Role Models” Program The Chamber’s newest educational program – “Role Models” – will debut this Thursday, November 15th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Blairmont Club by featuring two of Blair County’s most esteemed business leaders. Donald Devorris of Blair Companies and John Wolf of Wolf Furniture Company will answer questions from attendees related to their business careers and will provide insight into what has worked (and not worked) during their many years in building and maintaining a business. The cost to attend is just $25 for Chamber Members and $35 for non-members and includes lunch. Seating is limited and only a few spots remain. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.Thursday’s “Business After Hours” Slated for First National BankThe next Chamber “Business After Hours” will be held this Thursday, November 15th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at First National Bank, 224 Allegheny Street in Hollidaysburg. The cost to attend is $6.00 for Chamber Members in advance and $7.00 at the door. Non-members can attend for $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

Village at Morrisons Cove to Host “Business Before Hours” The “Bistro” at The Village at Morrisons Cove will host the next Chamber “Business Before Hours” on Friday, November 16th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. “The Bistro hosted last November’s Business Before Hours as well and the food and the atmosphere are tremendous,” explained Chamber President Joe Hurd. “Anyone who hasn’t been there has missed a great experience. Don’t miss it a second time.” There is no cost for Chamber Members to attend but registration is required. Call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.

Controversial Issues to Highlight LBC Session DebateThe second session of The Chamber’s Leadership Blair County Adult program for the Class of 2013 will be held on Friday beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the Spring Cove School District Administration Building. The session will feature a series of debates on three controversial topics related to local government: Taxing municipalities that use the PA State Police, Act 47, and Tax Exempt status for non-profits. The class will also discuss DiSC Behavioral Profiles as well as their own Class Project. For more information on Leadership Blair County, contact Judy Juda at 943-8151 or visit The Chamber Website.

Time Management is Topic of WE-LEaD “Lunch ’n’ Learn”Wayne Blue, Executive Director for Workforce Development and Continuing Education for Allegany College of Maryland’s Pennsylvania Campuses, will be the keynote speaker at the next “Lunch ’n’ Learn” program being held by The Chamber’s WE-LEaD Committee on November 20th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Blairmont Club in Hollidaysburg. Blue’s presentation, entitled “Eat that Frog” will help attendees to get organized, stop procrastinating and accomplish more in less time. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is corporate sponsor of the Lunch ’n’ Learn. The cost to attend is $22 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members and includes lunch and materials. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. (WE-LEaD is an acronym for Women Encouraging: Leadership, Education and Development).

Inexpensive Opportunities Available to Sponsor Television ProgramsThe Chamber is featuring a number of informative programs during the next three months that will also give members an opportunity to get the name of their business or organization in front of the viewing public in an inexpensive way. On November 28th, two half-hour “Blair County: It’s Our Business” programs will tape for airing on the Altoona Public Access Channel in December. One program will be on local manufacturing; the other on local insurance. The panel discussion format will be moderated by WTAJ’s Carolyn Donaldson. On December 17th, two more BCIOB programs – one on local retail and the other on local restaurants will tape for airing in January. The cost for a business to sponsor a “Blair County: It’s Our Business” program is just $100. A business or organization can sponsor all four BCIOB programs for just $300. To sponsor, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151 or email him.Planning to Go With The Chamber to China? Sign Up Now!Anyone still undecided on whether to go on The Chamber’s next trip to China needs to make up their mind soon. A non-refundable $200 deposit which guarantees that a person will be part of the trip is due in the Chamber Office by no later than November 30th and the full payment for the trip is due by December 14th. The dates of the China Trip are April 12-20, 2013. For more information on the trip, contact The Chamber at 943-8151.

Chamber Co-Sponsoring Seminar on Small Games of ChanceThe Blair County Chamber is partnering with State Senator John Eichelberger on a seminar which will focus on the rules and regulations surrounding Small Games of Chance in Pennsylvania. The seminar will be held next Monday, November 19th at 6:30 p.m. in the Saint Rose of Lima School Hall, 5519 Sixth Avenue in Altoona. Guest presenter will be Sgt. James Jones of the PA State Police’s Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement. “So many of our Chamber Members, particularly our many non-profit organizations, rely on small games of chance to stay alive financially,” disclosed Chamber President Joe Hurd. “It’s important that they know and understand how to remain in compliance with state regulations.” There is no cost to attend the seminar but registration is encouraged. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151.

“Buy Here. Live Here.” Planning Invites Member ParticipationThe Chamber’s Buy Here. Live Here. program has made great strides since its kickoff in March. What the program is able to accomplish in the future will be the focus of a strategic planning effort to be undertaken within the next month. Facilitated by David Duncan of Blair Medical Associates, the process requires feedback from interested Chamber Members. If you are a member of The Chamber and are willing to share your thoughts on local purchasing, contact Joe Hurd at 943-8151.

Congratulations . . .. . . to Allegheny Orthotics & Prosthetics of Altoona which was honored with the 2012 OPGA/POINT Freedom Award for service and dedication to veterans and active-duty soldiers.
. . . to J. Martin Kooman of Kooman & Associates, LLC, who recently achieved Chairman’s Council status with Raymond James Financial Services. The designation recognizes outstanding client service and exemplary professional growth.
. . . to Nason Hospital Home Health Agency in Roaring Spring which was recently named to the Top 500 of the 2012 HomeCare Elite. HomeCare Elite measures quality outcomes, process measure implementation, patient experience, quality improvement and financial performance.
. . . to Concurrent Technologies Corporation, headquartered in Johnstown, which has once again been recognized by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve for its efforts in accommodating the needs of service members.

Blue Card DiscountsHere are a few of the discounts you can receive with your Chamber Blue Card. Click here to see the full list of Blue Card Discounts. To have an offer listed contact Stacy Hoover at The Chamber at 943-8151.